Review Blog

Oct 18 2016

Twelfth night by William Shakespeare, retold by Terry Deary

Terry Deary Shakespeare Tales series. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN
9781472917836
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Theatre. Another in Deary's retelling
of Shakespeare's plays will help introduce this play to a new
audience. One of his best loved plays, Twelfth night is
often presented on the stage around the world and has been made into
countless film adaptations.
Here it is presented as a story and stripped back to its bare
essentials. John and Jane are at Richmond Palace to watch Master
Shakespeare's latest play, 'Twelfth night'. Through their eyes
we see the court and its splendour, Queen Elizabeth, now coming
towards the end of her life, the courtiers pressing their advantage
and the play set out before them. Their story and observations make
a fascinating backdrop to the play which tells of deception, just as
Lord Essex deceives the Queen. The two children could see that Essex
and his armed men, were up to no good and using the suit of armour
in the hall were able to defuse the plot by Essex's guards.
So the play continues, the parallels between what is actually
happening and the play's plot gathering speed. Both come to a
satisfactory conclusion and readers will have a sound grasp of the
play, while infusing some details about Elizabethan life. A
postscript about Essex's true attempts to overthrow Queen Elizabeth
rounds off the short book. This is one in Deary's series presenting
Shakespeare's plays in an abridged story version which will acquaint
younger readers with an outline of each play. Behind the play
presented is a story of young people involved in some way with the
play, giving a perspective which will appeal to the readers.
Fran Knight